Shema and Its Blessings

If Yom Tov falls on a weekday continue with "In compassion" below the line. All will thank You. | All will praise You. All will declare: Nothing is as holy as the LORD. All will exalt You, Selah, You who form all — the God who daily opens the doors of the gates of the East | and cleaves the windows of the sky, | who brings out the sun from its place and the moon from its abode, giving light to the whole world and its inhabitants whom He created by the attribute of compassion. If Yom Tov falls on a weekday continue here: Kat In compassion He gives light to the earth and its inhabitants, and in His goodness continually renews the work of creation, day after day. How P3.104 numerous are Your works LORD; You made them all in wisdom. The earth is full of Your creations. He is the King exalted alone since the beginning of time — praised, glorified and elevated since the world began. Eternal God, in Your great compassion, have compassion on us, LORD of our strength, Rock of our refuge, Shield of our salvation, You are our stronghold. The blessed God, great in knowledge, prepared and made the rays of the sun. He who is good formed glory for His name, surrounding His power with radiant stars. The leaders of His hosts, the holy ones, exalt the Almighty, constantly proclaiming God's glory and holiness. » May You be blessed, LORD our God, in the heavens above and on the earth below, for all the magnificence of Your handiwork and for the radiant lights You have formed; all these will glorify You, Selah! | Continue with "May You be forever blessed" on page 522. | pW Spi All will thank You: A short poem built around the last word of the previous line, "All," which is repeated here five times, four times at the begin- | ning of a phrase, and once at the end. In monotheism, to worship anything | less than the All is idolatry — be it worship of the self, the race, the nation, the ruler or the political system. The paragraphs that follow are an expansion of the usual first blessing